Variable speed steam engine



May 16, 1961 M u. MORRIS VARIABLE SPEED STEAM ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1959 m E m n Il W m @QJ www I .m H U N xm KBS mQ S NQ s DM J KQ Tu Q\\ J R -I I.. N Q mn M wm S um. Il -l WT wm @www mm.. .w a. -HUNNM NM on. N WI hmm im um o mw mn. RW uw w @Q mm. w Y MK QQ. RWI U W\. M E mm R \k n hm N M Ill! r\ IW. lll l .l Wh. QW n QM MM ww. uw, Nm. u www@ Q m. MMR wh \&| .S om SQ. &.\ m.\ h\ d @MN o u ,mv .ww ww wm NWN wm. QN! N 1| l www l NWN 1 l i ww` Il KN A Q nwy w uw wm Q mm Wh w uw. WR NWN .W\ Wk QH S QN CN Q, Q Sv m. mx. mw mx. \N\ um w km.. r J h f w 4 vu m\ May 16, 1961 M. u. MORRIS 2,984,067

VARIABLE SPEED STEAM ENGINE Filed June 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L52 IINVENTUR L MERCHANT LL MFRIS. l EVM! ATTDQNEY.

nted States Patent() VARIABLE SPEED STEAM ENGINE Merchant U. Morris, 3715 Brill Road, Indianapolis 27,

Ind.; Henrietta S. Morris, administratrix of said Merchant U. Morris, deceased, assignor to herself Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No. 821,808

7 Claims. (Cl. 60-27) This invention relates to a steam engine of a type wherein steam is generated within the connes of the various engine cylinders upon forcing a predetermined voiume of water into steam producing means provided within each cylinder and at a zone behind the piston thereof. The primary object of the invention resides in the overall structure permitting power to be generated in one or more cylinders without the need of the usual boiler, this generated power varying and directly controlled by the Volume of water permitted to enter the steam producing means.

A further important object of the invention resides in providing a pair of spaced apart, opposing cylinders lying substantially in the same plane, each cylinder carrying a pair of the steam producing means in order to drive the pistons from both ends of their strokes. Such a construction permits an extremely small and yet simple engine to be manufactured, being very ecient and economical to operate in that the exhaust may readily be condensed and returned in the form of a liquid to the initial water supply.

A still further important object of the invention resides in a controlled volume pump mechanism transmitting a predetermined volume of water into the steam producing means at each end of each cylinder and at a cycle accurately timed in relation to operation of the various ring stages of the cylinders. The volume of water forced into the steam producing means is dependent upon travel of the pump mechanism employed which is directly controlled by a throttle member and the time at which each pump is free to operate is controlled by a timing mechanism introduced into the overall combination. The timing at which each pump operates and the extent to which each pump operates are interrelated in the overall engine construction so that any number of like engines may be operated as one power unit simply by staggering the various timing mechanisms to effectively space the power strokes of -each cylinder one in relation to another.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form as illustrated by diagrammatic representation in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the structure embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail of the steam producing means of the invention including the pump mechanism.

A crankshaft 10 is provided and has spaced apart, olfset cam portions 11, 12, and 13 therealong. A pair l of opposing cylinders generally designated by the numerals 14 and 15 are positioned laterally of the'crankshaft 10 and at a zone in substantial alignment with the cam portion 11 thereof. These cylinders 14 and 15 are identical one with the other and therefore the following description of one cylinder is suiiicient to complete the description of its opposing cylinder.

A cylindrical cylinder block 16 iixedly carries a head member 17 across its outer end and xedly carries a head member 18 across its inner end, these head members being attached to the intervening block by means of bolts 19 extending through annular flanges 20 extending from the heads 17 and 18 and flanges 21 outturned from the cylinder block 16.

As a means of retaining heat within the respective head members 17 and 18, there is provided across each member a face 22, this face 22 having a plurality of apertures 23 therethrough in order that steam generated within each head may esca e therefrom into the bore provided through the cylinder block 16. A piston 24 slidably fits within the cylinder and may be reciprocated with'- in the block 16 by means of a rod 2S extending freely through the face and across the inner head 18 to pivotally interconnect by its free end 26 a connecting link 27 rotatably carried by the offset cam portion 11 of the crankshaft 10. In this regard, the inner head member 18 in each instance is provided with an external boss 28 which -rnay carry therethrough the usual bearing and packing members guiding and lubricating the piston rod 2S slidably extending therethrough.

The undermost side of the cylinder block 16 is made to be of a thickness wherein the wall thereof extends outwardly to the ends of the flanges 2l provided the major distance around the block 16. This portion, herein designated as numeral 29, is provided with inwardly directed diagonal exhaust passageways 30 and 31 therethrough, each of these passageways 30 and 31 extending from respective ends of the bore 32 through the cylinder block 16, internally of the cylinder, and including therefrom downwardiy and inwardly one toward the other to present openings through the wall 29 with spaced apart external exit ends.

As shown in Fig. l, in order to control the stroke of the pistons 24 in the cylinders 14 and 15, in relation to the oifset cam portion 11 provided on the crankshaft 10, the piston rods 25' and 25a may vary in length as herein disclosed or may be of the sr me length with the difference taken up by providing a connecting link 27a differing in length from the connecting link 27.

Each ot the cylinders 14 and 15 is provided with an exhaust valve 33 slidably retained by means, not shown herein, on the outer side of the cylinder and at a zone adjacent the passageways 30 and 31 thereof. Each exhaust valve 33 is pivotally carried by a connecting link 34 which in turn is rotatably carried by the olset cam portion 12 of the crankshaft 10. A chamber 35 having a length less than the distance between the external openings of the passageways 30 and 31 is carried by each valve 33 in order that, as the crankshaft 10 is rotated, the valves 33 are shifted back and forth along their respective cylin` ders 1'4 and 15 opening and closing the respective passageways 30 and 31 in timed sequence relative to the stroke of the piston 24. The movement of these valves 33 is such that as passageway 311 is opened into the chamber 35, the passageway 30 is closed o in respect to the chamber 3S and as the piston moves in the opposite direction the valve 33 shifts to then open the passageway 30 into the chamber 3S and close o the passageway 31 leading thereto. In this manner the used steam may be exhausted from the cylinder into the chamber 35 upon return of the piston 24.

Each cylinder 14 and 15 has a chamber 36 entering therein from its outer surface within the connes of the valve chamber 35, from which chamber 36 there extends downwardly a pipe 3/ leading from the cylinder 15 and a pipe 38 leading downwardly from the cylinder 1'4, both pipes 37 and 38 entering a condenser 39 from which a pipe extends downwardly as designated by the numeral 40 into a water supply 41. With this construction, the used steam exhausted from the respective cylinders 14 and 15 into the chambers 35 is free to travel therefrom through the chambers 36 and downwardly therefrom to finally enter the water supply 41 after passing through the condenser 39 provided thereabove.

Operably interconnected to the nal offset cam portion 13 of the crankshaft 10 is a pump member 42, herein shown as being of the torce type and having a piston 43 reciprocable therewithin and pivotally interconnected to a link 44 rotatably mounted on the oiset cam portion 13. An inlet pipe 45 extends downwardly from the pump member 42 to within the water supply 41 while an outlet pipe 46 extends from the pump 42 and by means of interconnecting pipe lengths 47 and 48, water may be pumped from the water supply 41 into the various steam generators, to be later described, generally designated by the numeral 49. It is seen that upon rotation of the crankshaft 18, the pump 42 elevates water from the supply 41 and vforces it under pressure through the piping 46 to adequately supply each steam generator 49 employed in the overall unit, herein shown as having a steam generator 49 carried by each head member 17 and 18. It is also seen that the steam produced by these respective generators 49 is later exhausted back to the water supply 41 in the form of a liquid in view of the condenser 39 and its interconnected piping members 37 and 3S.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, each steam generator 49 consists of a housing d having `a bore 51 axially therethrough and a counterbore 52 extending approximately one-half of the length of the housing 59 and opening on the upper side thereof. A dielectric cylindrical member 53 is carried axially within the counterbore 52 and is iixedly positioned axially of the bore 51 by means of its lower end being guided within a third bore 54 and its upper end being guided by a washer 55 abutting the under surface of a housing cap 56 iixedly attached to the housing by means of bolts 56a. A core member 57, made of an iron containing material, slidably extends within the cylindrical member 53 yand is yieldingly resisted by means of a spring 58 to lie normally at a zone intermediate the ends of the cylindrical member 53. In this instance, the spring 58 iixedly engages the upper end of the core member 57 by one end portion and extends upwardly therefrom to iixedly enga-ge by its opposite end portion the housing cap 56. may be pulled downwardly within the cylindrical member 53 upon overcoming the resistance of the spring 58 and then regain its initial position upon release of the pulling force. An axially `aligned plunger rod 59 extends downwardly from the core member 57 and carries on its lower end a plunger 60 slidable along the bore 51 and initially positioned adjacent the upper end of the bore 51.

A steam chamber generally designated by the numeral 61 extends downwardly `from the housing 50 and opens into the bore 51 therethrough. This steam chamber 61 is cylindrical and has in this one vform lan internal conical bottom 62 extending upwardly within the chamber and approximately centrally disposed of the chamber outer wall 63. A plurality of openings 64 enter the chamber 61 at a zone above the bottom 62 in order that steam generated within the chamber 61 may escape therefrom into the cylinders 14 and 15. As shown in Fig. 2, the steam generator 49 in this instance is carried by the cylinder head member 17 by means of screw threads 65 screwthreadedly engaging the head member 17 and positioning the major length of the steam chamber 61 internally of the cylinder. As shown in Fig. l, four steam gener- -ators 49 are employed, two vfor each cylinder, being located at opposing ends thereof with the steam chambers on opposite sides of the piston 24.

A bore 66 enters the housing Sti and interconnects with the bore 51 adjacent its lower end, this bore 66 interconnecting the outlet pipe 46 from the pump 42 with the steam generator bore 51. A check valve 67 is pro- In this manner, the core member 57 4 u.. vided within the line of piping 46 in order that water may enter the bore 51 -from the pump 42, filling the bore 51 with a column of water, and be restrained from owing back out the pipe 46. A second check valve 68 is carried within the steam chamber 61 and interconnecting the bore 51 in order that, upon sufficient pressure being supplied by the plunger 6i), the check valve 68 will open and allow a predetermined yamount of the water column to be Vforced through a diffusing nozzle 69 and into the steam chamber 61 in an atomized state.

The predetermined quantity o water forced into the steam chamber 61 is determined by the travel oi the plunger 60 within the bore 51. As one means of controlling the amount of water to be generated into steam, there is provided a plurality of wires 7', 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 wound around the dielectric cylindrical member 53 and at a zone below the initial positioning of t.e internal core member 57. These wires 70-77 extend outwardly lfrom the housing 69 through a cable 7S and interconnect by ends with electrical contacts designated as 1 through 8 and carried on a throttle member 79. ln this instance it is seen that there are eight wires individually wound around the member 53, extending from the throttle member 79, and interconnecting each by opposite ends with a Wire 8i) extending from the housing Si) interconnecting an electrical contact 81 carried on a timing mechanism generally designated by the numeral 82. Since four steam generators 49 are employed in the engine herein described, the timing mechanism 82 carries additional electrical contacts S3, S4, and 85, one for each of the other generators 49 and interconnected therewith in electrical circuitry by means of wires respectively numbered 86, 87, and 88. ln like manner, the wires iti-77 extending `from the throttle member 79 are wound around the dielectric cylindrical member ot each steam generator 49 and interconnect by ends with the respective wires Si), 86, 87, and 88 leading from the generators back to the timing mechanism 82.

As shown in Fig. 1, the timing mechanism consists of a flat disk member 89 around which rotates a switch blade 90. This disk 89 is made of dielectric material and is fixed in relation to the overall unit, the rotation of the switch blade 90 being provided by gears 91 and 92, the gear 91 being iixedly carried by the crankshaft 10 and the gear 92 meshing therewith to rotate the switch blade 90 on the end of a shaft member 93. As the crankshaft 10 rotates, the switch blade 90 is caused to rotate over the face of the disk member 89 and intermittently complete a circuit between the various steam generators 449 and a power generator herein shown as a battery 94. A hand or foot operated control switch 95 is rotatably carried by the throttle member 79 and may selectively be moved from one circuit contact 1-8 to another.

In addition to the spaced apart Wires 70-77 wound around the dielectric cylindrical member 53- of the steam generator 49, a Wire 96 extends from one side of the power source 94, to wind around the steam chamber 61 by spaced apart resistance windings 97 and then extends back to a switch 98 provided within the line 96 adjacent the other side of the power source 94. Additional resistance wires 99 extend from wire 96 to Wind around each of the other steam chambers 61 provided in the unit and then lead back to the other side of the wire 96. With such an electrical circuit, upon closing the switch 98, each steam chamber 61 becomes and remains heated to that degree which instantly changes the Water entering therein through the diffusion jet 69 into steam which is released into the cylinders through the opening 64. Beyond the switch 98 there is provided a second switch 100 within the line 96, from which there leads a wire 1011 to contact the switch blade 90 of the timing mechanism 82. Upon the closing of this switch 100i, the timing mechanism 82 is brought into the circuit and as the crankshaft and blade 90 rotate, circuits are intermittently completed between the power source 94 and the respective steam generators 49 interconnected therewith by means of the wires 80, 86, 87, and 88. A final switch 102 is provided between the wire 96 and a wire 103 extending therefrom to a starting motor 104. From the starting motor 104 there leads a second wire 105 back to the other side of the power source and interconnecting the wire 96. A pulley 106 is carried by a shaft 107 extending from the motor 104, around which a belt member 108 extends to likewise wrap around a ily wheel 109 carried fixedly on the outer end of the crankshaft 10.

A final wire 110 leads from the wire 96 to interconnect with the control switch 95 manually rotatable on the throttle member 79. In bringing this circuit into the overall combination, upon the moving of the control switch 95 around the throttle member 79, individual circuits are completedbetween the power source and the respective wires 70-77 and control the distance of travel of the plunger 60 within the bore 51 provided in the steam generator housing 50. As above described, it is seen that the various spaced apart windings around the cylindrical member 53 in elect present an electromagnet enabling an operator to control the movement of the iron core 57 within the cylindrical member 53. The distance the dielectric plunger 60 and rod 59 travel within the bore 51 may be effectively controlled in any one of eight positions to pre-determine the volume of water forced into the steam chamber 61 for conversion into steam. Upon moving the manually operated switch 95 around the positions numbered 1 through 8 on the throttle 79, the core 57 will be pulled downwardly within the cylindrical member 53 to a position where the iield is the strongest, the distance of travel depending on which one of the eight positions is then energized through the switch 95 and the wire 110 leading to the power source. The spring 58 will then return the core 57 to its initial position when the timing mechanism 82 automatically breaks the circuit of this one generator 49 and completes the circuit with another generator. With this combination the various steam generators 49 are timed one in relation to the other as the switch blade 90 rotates about the disc member 89 and the amount of water injected into the steam chamber 61 is controlled by the distance the plunger 60 travels within the housing bore 51, this distance varying as the control switch 95 is rotated around the throttle 79 to complete a selected circuit of the wires 70477. The column of water provided within the bore 51 will be completely expelled Within the steam chamber 5l should the switch 95 be rotated around to the eighth position on the throttle, and likewise lbe proportionally less as the switch becomes positioned on one of the various contacts preceding it.

In operation, and assuming that a source of power is available such as a generator or battery 94, and having the various elements of the overall unit interrelated as above set out, the switch 98 is closed completing the circuit in the line 96 to heat the respective steam chambers 61 to that degree enabling water to be transformed into steam. This switch 98 remains closed and the chambers 61 with the resistance windings 97 therearound are kept in this heated state throughout the operation of the engine. Switch 100 is then closed completing the circuit to the timer 82 so that when the crankshaft 10 should be rotated, the various steam generators 49 will be intermittently energized as the switch blade 90 contacts the various electrical contacts 81, 83, 84 and 85 therearound. At this point, the steam chambers 61 are extremely hot and are so constructed to retain heat in view of their conical bottoms 62 and their overall heavy construction while the timer 82 upon having its switch blade 90 rotated therearound enables the electromagnets within the steam generators 49 to operate one after another in a timed sequence. The final step is to close switch 102 which energizes the .starting motor 104 and causes the crankshaft 10 to rotate under power supplied by the source 94. There is no great compression in either of the cylinders 14 and 15 so that the crankshaft 10 is relatively easy to rotate under power of `the starting motor 104. Upon rotation of the crankshaft y10, the pump 42 supplies water through the pipe 46 into each of the steam generators 49, that is a column of water within the bore 51, and the timing mechanism 82 begins operating to intermittently select the steam generator 49 which may have its column of water, or a portion thereof, forced into the steam chamber 61 as dependent on the positioning of the control switch in relation to the contacts provided on the throttle 79. An idling speed of the engine may be attained at the rst position on the throttle 79 while full speed of the engine is had at the eighth position thereon. As soon as the engine begins operating under force supplied by steam admitted into the cylinders from the various chambers 61, the starting motor 104 may be turned oit by opening switch 102 since further rotation of the crankshaft 10 is continually supplied by stream emitted in cycles at various ends ofthe piston 24 in each cylinder 14 and 15. The remaining switches 98 and 100 remain in a closed condition during the entire operation of the engine and the only power needed from the source 94 is that amount suthcient to keep the steam chambers 61 in a heated condition, to energize the Various electro-magnets within the steam generators 49, and complete circuits between the various generators 49 and the timing mechanism 82. The initial water supply 41 is continually replenished in view of the operation of the exhaust valves 33 transferring expanded steam back to that supply in the form of a liquid after passing through the condenser 39.

The faces 22 across the head members 17 and 18 are provided along with the solid conical bottom 62 of the steam chamber 61 as Ia means of retaining heat within those various elements.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simple yet most etcient variable speed steam engine, and yet one which is extremely effective in construction and operation, and while I have described the invention in the one particular form in quite a bit of detail, it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing trom the spirit of the invention, and I therefore desire not to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a steam engine having a rotatable crankshaft, a cylinder, and a piston interconnected to the crank-shaft and reciprocating in said cylinder, the combination of a pair of steam generators each having a steam chamber portlon extending within said cylinder at opposite ends thereof, said piston travelling the distance therebetween; resistance windings around each chamber and interconnected to a source of electrical power; -a starting motor in electrical circuit with said power source rotating initially said crank-shaft; a supply of water; pump means carrying a volume of water from said supply into each steam generator; a switch member in electrical circuit with said steam generator pump means and said power source, actuating said pump means and injecting a pre-determined amount of said water volume therein into the steam chamber; a timing mechanism operating upon rotation of said crank-shaft; said timing mechanism being in electrical circuit with each steam generator pump means and said power source, spacing apart intermittently the operation of said steam generator pump means; said resistance windings continuously heating said steam chambers to that degree converting instantly said injected water into steam for driving said piston from opposite ends of said cylinder; and exhaust means permitting exit of expanded steam from both ends of said cylinder back to said supply of water in a liquid state.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a switch between the resistance windings and the source of electriagencer cal power; there is a second switch between the timing mechanism and the electrical power source; and there is a third switch between the starting motor and the electrical power source; said iirst switch remains closed throughout the operation of the engine; said second switch remains closed throughout the operation of the engine; and said third switch remains closed for a period of time permitting steam to be generated within the cylinder and turn the crank-shaft upon driving the piston back and forth therein.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a second cylinder and piston reciprocating therein; said second cylinder axially opposing the iirst cylinder and lying substantially in a horizontal plane therewith, the crank shaft being disposed therebetween; a second pair of steam generators each having a steam chamber portion extending within said second cylinder at opposite ends thereof; said water supply pump means carrying a volume of water into all of said steam generators; pump means within each of said second pair of steam generators; said switch member being in electrical circuit with `all of said steam generator pump means and said power source; said timing mechanism being in electrical circuit with all of said steam generator pump means and said power source, spacing apart intermittently the operation of said pump means; resist-ance windings around each steam chamber of said second pair of steam generators and connected to said source of electrical power; and exhaust means permitting exit of expanded steam from both ends of said second cylinder back to said supply of water; said pistons bein-g driven from and exhausting both ends of the respective cylinders in timed sequence and in relation to one another.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said steam generator pump means is an electro-magnet, the core of which comprises a plunger in axial alignment with a bore containing said volume of water; said core forcing an amount of said volume into said steam chamber upon electrical energzation of spaced apart windings therearound; and means to return said core to an initial, non-forcing position upon removal of said electrical energization.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said steam chambers are carried internally within said cylinder by opposing head members; said chambers each carrying means atomizing said amount of water entering therein; and exit openings are provided around said chambers permitting escapement of said steam into the cylinder.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which said core windings are individual circuits between said power source and said timing mechanism; and said throttle member carries a control switch energizing selectively one of said circuits while the other circuits remain open; said core is drawn into the windings to a position near the center thereof, displacing an amount of said water volume in proportion to the travel of said core.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said timing mechanism carries a switch blade interconnecting intermittently the power source with the windings of the individual steam generators of the engine, energizing one generator at a time and in a timed sequence permitting said piston to be driven from both ends of the cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,206 Griesche Mar. 1l, 1902 1,290,966 Garland Jan. 14, 1919 1,744,288 Vorel Jan. 21, 1930 2,258,746 Dickman Oct. 14, 1941 2,622,184 Johneas Dec. 16, 1952 2,867,975 Mallory Jan. 13, 1959 

